Need a plan for when at daycare

[brightside]

DS goes to daycare wed-fri. Due to increased A times and the fact that my son seems to have inbuilt batteries, he only sleeps about an hour max while he is there eg 12-1. When I pick him up he is of course shattered and I have been letting him have 20-30 mins in the car (aroudn 4.45-5.15) to prevent him being overtired at bedtime. However, he then goes to bed at 7.30 and then wakes after 10 hours. I think the 10 hours is a sign of overtiredness but he will not go back to sleep. If he does, its for about 10 mins before I have to get him up at 7. He functions on about 12 hours a day instead of his usual 13-14, therefore building up tiredness that we spend sorting out Sat-Tues. 

Do you think I should continue with the catnap-he sleeps solidly for the 10 hours, no nws
OR
risk no catnap and put to bed at 6 and going to bed very tired and possibly causing nws and a 4am waking. 10 hours seems to be a BIG habit at the moment. If he did wake at 4 though, he would probably go back to sleep by 5.30, therefore getting another 1-1.5 hours sleep.

Thanks for any advice.

[mari]

Does he sleep longer for you at home?  If so then I would check the sleeping situation at daycare, why does he sleep so little, are they allowing adequate conditions ie, quiet room and cots?  TBH, I would imagine that the added activity of a daycare would make him more tired so he would like a longer nap. 

Rather than an afternoon nap I would go for an earlier bedtime, perhaps 6.30pm if youcan't get him to nap longer at daycare.

[brightside]

Thanks for your replies.

The trouble at daycare is that the environment is too stimulating for him. The cots are in the same room so it isn't quiet. I have talked to them about his sleep and they do try at the times I ask but he really fights sleep there because he wants to play. Consequently, he goes to sleep overtired and therefore only sleeps 30 mins at a time. He is going into the next room on Wednesday where they have set nap times and a more structured day, plus there is only 6 of them. I am hoping the structure will really help, although I don't know how he will last until 12 when they do the nap.

And yes, he sleeps much better than that when at home.

[mari]

Really they should be able to provide a quiet place away from all the activities, where the children can sleep undisturbed.  I am sure that he would sleep better then.